The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called for the ban of an upcoming film featuring popular actress Nancy Isime, which depicts actresses in purdah, an Islamic full covering also known as the Niqab, wielding dangerous weapons. MURIC has condemned the movie as “satanic” and claims it portrays Muslim women as criminals, inciting public animosity against them.
In a statement signed by MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the organization expressed grave concerns about the film, labeling it as highly anti-Muslim. The statement read, “An extremely anti-Muslim film has been introduced into the Nigerian movie industry. The upcoming film, recently unveiled by Nancy Isime, shows women in purdah brandishing dangerous weapons and robbing banks. It is Islamophobia taken to the highest level. This film is satanic, repugnant, and provocative.”
Akintola argued that the film aims to depict Muslim women as inherently violent criminals, potentially inciting public ridicule and hostility towards Muslims. He described the movie as part of a broader effort to discourage Muslim women from wearing hijab and niqab, a battle that has been previously contested in Nigerian courts. “This satanic film is the latest effort in the war against hijab,” he added.
MURIC has urged the National Film and Video Censors Board to investigate and impose an immediate ban on the film to prevent potential unrest. “To Nigerian Muslims who have inundated our communication channels with video clips, voice notes, and other types of messages, we have this to say: please remain calm and peaceful. You have spoken loud and clear. Our religion brought a message of hope and peace to the world. We will not allow anyone to paint our women, our mothers, our wives, our daughters, and sisters in the colours of Shaytan. Be good ambassadors of Islam. Don’t take the law into your hands. Allow the authorities to take necessary action,” Akintola stated.
The controversy began when Isime unveiled a movie poster featuring women in hijab and niqab holding guns during a bank robbery. The poster has sparked outrage within the Muslim community, leading to calls for action against what has been described as “Islamophobic content.” MURIC has threatened to file a complaint with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, regarding the shared content.
Latifat Adewunmi Jumah, who runs a Facebook page named Laj Fingers, voiced her dissatisfaction, stating, “The niqab/hijab is not an armed robbery attire! The niqab/hijab is not an attire for concealing identity. If you needed to conceal your identity for a perfect robbery role, you could have used a nose mask or worn a mask. Why wear Islamic attire? I find this offensive. Something needs to be done to stop these people. Niqab/Hijab is not a costume, neither is it a joke.”
Another Facebook user, Alfa Shehu, criticized the involvement of a fellow Muslim in the film, saying, “And one of our brothers from Ilorin is kuku in the movie with them. Hypocrites! It is these same people who will turn around tomorrow and say women in Niqab are doing this and doing that. Awon alarun opolo gbogbo. Anything for clouts and monetisation.”
In a press statement issued to a news agency on Tuesday by MURIC and signed by Professor Ishaq Akintola, its Director, the group said, “The Federal Government cannot afford to close its eyes to this serious human rights abuse within its domain.